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It's not about more (& more) pills ... lose the weight T2s!

Are pills pushed (and supported) more than lifestyle changes by the GPs?

  • Total voters
    26

JulesTheMan

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I read in papers that GPs tend to stuff you with more and more pills or jabs for controlling diabetes, I'm type 2; however since May when I got hit with some peripheral neuropathy, I began to eat the right stuff, walk and hour a day and can happily say I have lost 2 stones (now at under 12 stones) and for the first time in 6 years, when I got diagnosed, I have had a "normal" HbA1c reading (6.5%, used to be over 9%). So I agree with the likes of Prof Roy Taylor (Newcastle Univ) that losing weight and keeping fast burn carbs intake down really is the holy grail - yet I never got that from the surgery, who seem to like prescribing more and more pills; don't you think?

It really is the case that if you burn off (or reduce) the fat around the tummy that the pancreas and liver can then cope; I'm proof positive of that. I feel much better, look younger (they tell me) and have much more energy - none of which the darn pills gave me. It does take will-power, or in my case the scare I got from the neuropathy (a great motivator, as it can get worse), which sadly persists regardless, but at least is manageable if I keep the glucose controlled in this way. So I encourage everyone to drop the pounds reasonably quickly and do some tummy exercises, for which yoga (and zen meditation for will-power) is great. I did it in 4 months which is quite good, and only through no sugary intake, less bread and potatoes and good, determined, brisk walking, and some metformin (less than prescribed me). So I didn't have to do much that I wasn't already doing in my 30's; alas, we tend to lose ourselves as we get older, a pity.

Also, do avoid all things that state 'diet' as most sweeteners are neurotoxic, especially aspartame (an msg by another name), avoid all msg's too - they are hidden under many guises, check out the web for a comprehensive list; they mess up your brain and nerves. The modern day life and the evil push by advertising to consume all manner of rubbish not good for us has gotten us in this mess, they want to get rich at all costs, including people's lives. Say no, live a more natural, simpler and less-conditioned way of life, I say - I do (after so many corporate years) and I feel far, far better for it. It's (usually) never too late to see the light and make the change. It's very possible.
 
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When I lowered my carb intake I discussed what I was doing my GP, she wasn't against it, but obviously NICE tells her to recommend differently. She did mention that in her experience most people find it very difficult to change their lifestyle, diet and exercise, to do what's necessary to lose weight never mind help control their BG. Hence, I believe, doctors prescribe pills before seeing if you can change your diet and exercise regime, they see far too many people fail.
 
We've had threads of this nature before.
I'm adamant losing weight was the best thing I did for my diabetes, but also before I could manage that, the meds certainly helped my BG, and until I could come off/reduce them, I am glad they were prescribed, as that's several months when I would have been building up to complications otherwise.

So yess, drop the weight, then drop the tablets after.
 
Well sadly I'm one of those who cant lose weight. I've been low carbing for 3 years. Now I'm on a keto diet and have been for 3 wks, with less than 15 grams of carb a day. I do a half hour kettlebell workout daily, and I still cant lose weight. So its not that easy.
I'm 60, hysterectomy and then menopause after which I put on 2 stone to take me to 12 st. I'm 5ft 7. So when I hear 'just lose weight' it p****s me off. Folk can just assume you pig out, I never did.
We are all different.
 

Very low calorie worked for me, the high fat part of LCHF didn't seem to be as effective, at times I gained weight on too much fat.
Only by counting calories can I keep the weight off now as well.
I don't think it'll ever change for me, I envy those that say they can eat what they like, in any quantity.
 
I totally agree with you. I often wonder why the people who can lose weight so easily after diagnosis didn't just do it before they found about the diabetes! I was trying to lose weight for about 20 years before diagnosis, and yes it's maddening when others say 'just lose the weight'
 

I can answer that as a personal question.
Why should I have done?
I like(d) food.
No incentive to lose weight. It would have been very hard work.
Then I was diagnosed, did a lot of research, and realised the best chance of remission was to lose the fat.
So, I now had incentive.
And did a lot of very hard work.

No reflection on anyone else, just answering why I didn't bother before.
 

Thank you for answering.
 
I'm actually under my calorie intake for the day on high fat. So calories in calories out for me is bunkum.
I was a low fat and calorie vegetarian, then was diagnosed diabetic, as the Americans say - go figure.
 
I think if a person ignores their diet and exercise for years after diagnosis, then you can't really blame the doctors for prescribing more meds. So many people on this forum hit the ground running, so to speak, and achieve non-diabetic numbers within a few months of diagnosis while motivation is still high. The forum is full of success stories
 

Not just after diagnosis.
Maybe I'm an exception to this forum, but how many have seen the same family doctor for years, having slowly put on weight, been told at annual checkups that they should lose some, get more active etc.
Or was that just me?
 
SunnyExpat said:
Not just after diagnosis.
Maybe I'm an exception to this forum, but how many have seen the same family doctor for years, having slowly put on weight, been told at annual checkups that they should lose some, get more active etc.
Or was that just me?
Click to expand...
Of course. Try to get into the non-diabetic range then try to stay there...that's my plan.

You are not alone. Weight gain is a symptom of insulin resistance. I put on a load of weight pre-diagnosis eating lots of whole grains, fruit etc. Only losing weight since turning the food triangle on its head. I never knew.
 
SunnyExpat said:
Not just after diagnosis.
Maybe I'm an exception to this forum, but how many have seen the same family doctor for years, having slowly put on weight, been told at annual checkups that they should lose some, get more active etc.
Or was that just me?
Click to expand...
I never had annual check ups, but every time I went to the GP I was told to lose weight but not how to do so! Cutting down on calories just slowed my metabolism right down.
 

As one of those who clearly could have lost weight, but didn't, I'll respond with my personal viewpoint.

Firstly, I did carry some poundage, but nobody was telling me I needed to lose weight, and I wasn't in any of the danger zones on BMI charts or in dress sizes, so I wasn't feeling anything inside that made me want to change how I was. Secondly, quite clearly the prospect of maybe getting healthier (when I felt absolutely fine) wasn't as great an incentive as the prospect of life-long medications, and potential pathological progression and complications.

I really do feel for those who are or have tried as hard as they can to drop some weight, as it must be very dispiriting and frustrating. For those who could; sustained change is a very complex process and a message of potential better health isn't that strong a motivator. That last bit I can say from my personal experience and from my knowledge of how and why people actually undertake change they can and do sustain long term.
 

How long have you been stable at your new weight and HbA1c, Jules?
 
I'm always surprised at how easily some people lose weight.

Oh, i know it is always an effort, and i think those efforts are always to be congratulated. And celebrated, and i celebrate with them.

But i have personal experience to show that there may be very complex issues preventing straightforward weight loss.

If my weight loss was as simple as cutting carbs and/or calories, with more exercise... well, i would have been slim and fit since the aerobic phase of the 80s. And the hill walking 90s, and the yoga and kettle bells of the Naughties. Also the Cambridge, Hay, Montignac, Dukan (and numerous others)...

There are certain conditions that make weight loss more difficult. Some of them often combine with diabetes, and some stack on top.

I (and my consultant) are delighted when i don't gain. With daily food control and vlc. At the same time, it is a delight to me that i am on only one medication (not for diabetes). Although if i could get someone to prescribe me metformin, i would snap their hand off. But they all think i am managing fine without. Humph.
 
I was devastated by the T2 diagnosis in June 2015. I'd just started a weightloss drive a fortnight earlier and bang, I was floored.

I do consider myself fortunate in my medical team though, a family member who has been T2 for over 5 years doesn't get anything like the support I do.

*The DN is happy with the way I'm losing weight (due to check myself next week but roughly 3 stone gone since June 1st) - reduced but not low carb, very healthy carb choices, low GI, 1200 calories; increasing my fruit and veg intake; plenty water. She recognizes that modern thinking does not require us to eat the amount of carbs the "official" line tells us to.
*I've had my podiatry appointment - going back this afternoon because I've upped my walking so much I've skinned my toes!
*I've got the retinopathy appointment next week.
*I've got the DESMOND course next week.
*Originally there was no diabetic dietitian in post but there is now, and I'm seeing them in a fortnight.

I have my next (2nd) HbA1C next week, and hope to see a big improvement. The team are pretty sure that weightloss Will be the key for me, given that I've still got 4 stone to lose...... I hope they're right.
I also hope I'll be able to come off the metformin. I'm only on 500mg slow release, and even that shoots my breakfast straight out of me! (tmi), I'm fairly sure it's impacting my sleep negatively, I'd like to be rid.....
 
Have you asked your DN about stopping the metformin? Obviously don't stop it on your own, but it might be worth asking about it.
 
I had normal weight at my diagnosis. Actually, my previous GP told me to get to the very bottom of the normal weight range - and I am relatively muscular! I now have an BMI of 20.6 and might lose 1 or 2 more kilos, but I don't want to overdo it - or be sure it is healthy.
 
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